A joint investigation team was launched on June 10 to investigate allegations of external pressure on customs drug investigations during the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the same day, "A joint investigation team of about 20 members, composed of prosecutors, police officers, officials from the National Tax Service, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), will be established at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office to investigate all aspects of the alleged external pressure." The team will be led by Yoon Gukkwon, head of the Violent Crime Investigation Division at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 37). Given the seriousness of the case, the Narcotics and Organized Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office will directly oversee the investigation.
The allegations center on the Yeongdeungpo Police Station securing testimony in January 2023 that customs officials were involved in the smuggling of approximately 74 kilograms of methamphetamine by suspects of Malaysian nationality. The police then launched an investigation. However, it is alleged that senior officials from the Presidential Office, the police, and the Korea Customs Service exerted external pressure on the investigation in an attempt to cover up the case. There are also suspicions that the prosecution interfered with the Yeongdeungpo Police Station's investigation at that time.
Baek Haeryong, former chief of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station (Superintendent), testified before the National Assembly in July last year that Cho Byungno, who was then head of the Public Safety Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, requested that the section regarding the involvement of Incheon Customs officials be removed from the press release on the drug investigation results. Baek also testified that the then chief of Yeongdeungpo Police Station instructed him to postpone the drug investigation briefing, stating, "This case is known in Yongsan and is being viewed as serious."
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials accepted Baek's complaint and launched an investigation. In March this year, the National Assembly passed a proposal calling for a permanent special prosecutor to investigate the alleged external pressure on the drug investigation, but this did not lead to an actual special prosecutor's investigation.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "This is an unprecedented case in which customs officials are suspected of being involved or complicit in an international drug smuggling organization. It is a matter of grave public interest and national attention due to allegations of external pressure and lobbying for leniency. With the launch of the new administration, we intend to promptly clarify the facts surrounding these allegations and handle the case strictly." The office added, "We will quickly and clearly determine the facts regarding all the allegations raised."
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